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Original poster

So, I’m ‘the grown up’ then?

77 replies

TheTeethingPoo · 06/12/2019 09:10

I’ve managed to get to my thirties and only this week have I realised I’m ‘the grown up’.

When perusing the new eyebrow bar in the bus station in town, two teenage boys of about 13/14 were lurking nearby:

Teen 1: ask that woman there

Teen 2 shuffled over to me: ‘excuse me miss, I’ve lost my bus pass and I’m not sure what to do’

My mind couldn’t believe that 1) I was the woman, 2) he called me miss and 3) trusted me to fix a problem.

I also was thinking ‘how the fuck should I know? Maybe I should phone my mum?’ Instead I asked if he’d been to the help desk, and walked him over to the help desk to see if it had been handed in. Suggested calling a parent for a lift (both working apparently). Convinced the help desk to give him a free pass to get the bus home and told him to leave his name and number (and parents name/number) with the help desk in case it’s handed in.

He left me with a little wave and a ‘thank-you miss’.

So, it’s official I’m ‘the grown up’. I’m now supposed to have the answers for the youths Shock in my mind I’m still 17!!

What moment made you realise you were ‘the grown up’?

It should be noted, I had my 6 month old with me but even becoming a parent didn’t shock me into grown-up mode Grin

OP posts:
Disfordarkchocolate · 06/12/2019 09:12

That made me smile. I used to volunteer someone and the women called me Miss, made me feel grown-up (and old). You did far better than I would have.

bellabelly · 06/12/2019 09:13

Aw, that's really sweet. Well done you for getting into grown up mode and helping him to get home OK.

pinkyredrose · 06/12/2019 09:14

That's lovely that they trusted you to help them! I'm trying to think of my 'grown up' moment, i must have one somewhere!

FusionChefGeoff · 06/12/2019 09:15

Sewing mittens on a string into toddler DS's coat

Original poster
TheTeethingPoo · 06/12/2019 09:18

Ooo I didn’t mean to add a vote, didn’t think you could in chat!

To be honest the whole time on the inside I was like ‘am I doing this wrong?’ But he seemed happy enough.

The miss thing was shocking, that’s what we used to call teachers, not young me!!

Mittens strings is very grown up.

OP posts:
PrincessHoneysuckle · 06/12/2019 09:18

That's me! I'm always looking for a more grown up adult and I'm 39 Grin

Sprinklemetinsel · 06/12/2019 09:18

Long after my children had arrived! At a funeral, I noticed an elderly relative was upset and looked around for a grown up to comfort them. Realised it was me Sad

MrsJoshNavidi · 06/12/2019 09:22

I remember being referred to as "that lady", and looked around to see who they were pointing at before realising it was me!

Instagrump · 06/12/2019 09:27

I suppose it was when I realised that I could make all the decisions about my children. I still felt like a kid (even though I was 26 and had rented my own homes from 16 years old) when DH and I had our firstborn. It was only when I had two kids that I felt that I was truly a grown up and could make every decision (along with now DH) regarding my children and their upbringing.

Andromache77 · 06/12/2019 09:30

I've probably had a few before but my most grownup/middle aged mummy thing was a couple of years ago when we were travelling with my then 3 years old DD and her brothers (teenaged, not mine). I had packed a bag of tangerines so they wouldn't go overripe and because, you know, airport food and while my husband went to get the luggage on arrival I stood there, peeling and handing out tangerine segments to six hungry hands in the middle of the frigging airport and putting the peels in our bag, all tidy and nice. If that's not grown up, nothing is.

Ghoulestofmums · 06/12/2019 09:31

I still often don’t feel grown up and I’m in my late 60s. I still feel startled seeing my son perform his very responsible job as i cant believe I’m grown up enough to have a grown up son. I had a job where i was the most important person in the room (not stealth boasting, just explaining) and I regularly felt everyone there would laugh at me for pretending to be an adult

TammyKat · 06/12/2019 09:33

I don’t think I have yet

Amber2019 · 06/12/2019 09:34

When I was referred to as that lady, I'm still devastated. I dont feel like the "grown up"

readingismycardio · 06/12/2019 09:35

I love this thread, OP!

I loved this: also was thinking ‘how the fuck should I know? Maybe I should phone my mum?’

😂😂😂😂😂

Totally me

frankie001 · 06/12/2019 09:37

When I get asked to buy cigarettes or alcohol by the local youths.

Zaphodsotherhead · 06/12/2019 09:42

I just had to phone a solicitor to make an appointment.

Whilst I was on the phone, I was dancing round the kitchen in my penguin pyjamas, feeling like I was Doing Adulting under false pretences.

I'm 59.

MarianaMoatedGrange · 06/12/2019 09:43

I still say "I'll leave it and ask a grown up" if unsure of how to fix something.

I'm in my 60s.

loseyourself · 06/12/2019 09:44

That is kind of nice though OP isn't it and you must have a kind face!

Muchtoomuchtodo · 06/12/2019 09:48

Signing to be power of attorney for my Dad has hit me like a ton of bricks.

The realisation that not only am I responsible for myself and dc, but may also have to act for my Dad too.

karala · 06/12/2019 09:50

sadly mine was when a young person referred to me as a miserable old bag - I was about 36 at the time. Hmm

Guiltypleasures001 · 06/12/2019 09:54

I worked in an academy school for 4yrs as a counsellor
Walking down the hall to my room and the kids and staff were calling me Miss 😱
But but I'm still the hall monitor getting the first drag of the shared fag in the girls toilets dear reader Grin

CigarsofthePharoahs · 06/12/2019 09:55

When my ds moaned at me that he had to go to bed at 8pm and I got to stay up.
"But WHEN will you go to bed mummy?"
"Whenever I like, I'm a grown up!"
Felt weird.

wasthatamistake · 06/12/2019 10:05

My ds' principal called me the other day. He's very well spoken and I felt about 15 speaking to him and thinking 'shit, I wish there was someone else around to take this call'. School stuff always hits home that I'm the adult parent of a teen boy.

undercoveraessedai · 06/12/2019 10:08

This post has made my day, I often feel like this!

*I just had to phone a solicitor to make an appointment.

Whilst I was on the phone, I was dancing round the kitchen in my penguin pyjamas, feeling like I was Doing Adulting under false pretences.

I'm 59.*

@Zaphodsotherhead I am going to be you when I grow up (I'm 33 😻)

Stupiddriver1 · 06/12/2019 10:10

That made me giggle about considering ringing your mum.

I think realising that I'm the grown up is not having any parents still alive so not having anyone to ring. Though dh is more sensible than me so will do for advice in a crisis. I also have sensible friends when I don't feel grown up enough for situations.

But I do have a very responsible job and am in charge/responsible for a lot of stuff including a large number of students. Who often come to me for advice. So yes, giving advice about studies or relationship problems, housing problems, etc makes me feel quite grown up.